Let's rename this string accessibility or diversity!
I've been very encouraged by the passion and interest shown in
these issues and would welcome your contribution to the strategic development of
the Community Services Group of Cilip (CSG). These were the very issues that CSG
was set up to address in 1984, amongst other social inclusion agenda
items. At that time we talked about "disadvantaged" which would no doubt
offend some people today if that label was assigned to them. However we
move with the times and hopefully talk about and treat others who are different
to ourselves with respect and dignity. I must admit I find it difficult to
keep up with political correctness terminology and risk offending some people by
using the wrong term. So how do we progress?
CSG is taking a long hard look at itself and the way it operates. It
would appear that we have failed to address the needs of black, Asian and other
non-white staff working in the library and information world. Very
few black, Asian and other non-white staff participate on CSG
committees. Why not? If you have any thoughts please let me
know.
The Government has taken on social inclusion as a major platform to deliver
its policies as witnessed by Best Value, PMP audits etc As a result of this,
every Cilip group has taken on CSG's mantle of "working to promote equal access
for all commentates to library and information services and to combat
disadvantage." which is more than we could have hoped for in 1984.
However a great deal of lip service is paid to social inclusion and very little
redirection of resources and "real" mainstreaming has taken place. One
notable exception is London Borough of Merton which won the Libraries Changes
Lives Award in 200. The award is administered by CSG and I am chair of the
judging panel. If I am wrong about lack of real commitment to social
inclusion let me know.
You can make a real contribution to this debate by joining CSG when you
renew your subscription to Cilip and come to our AGM on Monday 3 February at
Cilip HQ at 12.00. Sorry about the advert!!
Philip Wark
Chair of CSG
Principal Librarian
Midlothian Council Library
Service
Library HQ
2 Clerk Street
Loanhead
Midlothian EH20
9DR
Tel: 0131 271 3971
Fax: 0131 440 4635
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 6:18
PM
Subject: Re: e-books
It's one of the more depressing facets of human nature that in
order to
encourage and facilitate inclusive behaviour we need to find
little boxes
and labels to define those people we fear are being excluded
and in doing so
can sometimes inadvertently end up either stereotyping or
patronising the
individuals involved.
A long, long time ago when I
was doing advice work I was on a training
course that was supposed to be
addressing equal opportunity issues (and that
label's another can of
worms!) We spent a whole afternoon applying labels to
"disadvantaged"(!)
people of various types using photographs cut out of
magazines to make sure
that we were using the correct terminologies (which
are subject to fashion
anyway). As an exercise in taxonomy and group
dynamics it was fascinating.
As an approach to providing services for
collections of human beings with
unique needs and requirements it was pretty
unfulfilling.
I'm not
fond of the word "ethnic" myself, especially not in the context of
service
development. It's easy to be either accidentally patronising or
so
circumspect as to be almost willfully obscure. Perhaps the next
productive
loop on the list could address ways of describing how we're
trying to
address the library needs of people who don't read or speak
English (or
aren't entirely comfortable in it) and the needs of those
people who speak
English but have different cultural
traditions.
Just my personal opinion.
Steven
Steven
Heywood
Systems Manager
Rochdale Library Service
Wheatsheaf
Library
Baillie Street
Rochdale, England OL16 1JZ
Tel: 01706
864967
Fax: 01706 864992
Read any good books lately?
http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/living/libraries.asp?url=libraryread
>
----------
> From: Sarah
Rands[[log in to unmask]">SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>
Reply To: Sarah Rands
>
Sent: 03 December 2002
17:26
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
Subject: Re: e-books
>
> Apologies
to anyone who may have been offended by my e-mail, I agree with
>
Kathy's statement and whole heartily agree that "grouping" people into
a
> particular "race", "type", "culture", colour or any other type of
group is
> can be perceived as patronising and ignorant, fitting into a
"group"
> myself
> I do however find that sometimes political
correctness can go a little too
> far and will end up not being able to
use any "un political words at
> all!!"
>
> I was really
trying to lighten the subject and add a little humour which I
> though
everyone would find
appropriate!
>
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